Williams to sweep Azarenka for sixth straight time

Pre-tournament pick Serena Williams is around 2-9 to win the US Open women`s singles final at Flushing Meadows, with only Victoria Azarenka standing between the American and her 15th Grand Slam singles title and fourth such triumph at home.

The better-than-even-money odds that bookmakers put up about Williams before the rain-interrupted US Open women`s singles began have long gone and, looking at the head-to-head data, there are nine reasons why the odds setters are taking no chances with the American against the Belarusian.

Williams and Azarenka have met 10 times since the latter started to make a name for herself on the professional circuit in 2005. Williams leads their series 9-1.

Azarenka went from potential star to superstar when she shocked Williams in the 2009 Miami final. Since then, the Belarusian has taken her career singles titles total to 12, including winning her first major championship by taking out the Australian Open women`s singles earlier this year, and claimed the world number one ranking. But she has not been able to better Williams whenever the two women have met.

Williams has won her last seven matches versus Azarenka on the full range of surfaces, winning the five ties played in 2011 or later in straight sets. Their most recent encounter was in the London 2012 Olympic Games women`s singles semi-final, with the American triumphing 6-1 6-2.

Bookmakers have gone to town with US Open women`s singles final markets but which of them features the best bet on the title decider given the short odds about Williams defeating Azarenka for the 10th time? Well, the odds of around 4-7 about the American winning in straight sets stands out.

No-one has taken more than six games off Williams during the US Open women`s singles, whereas Azarenka was two points from defeat at 5-5 in the third set tiebreak of her quarter-final against 2011 champion Samantha Stosur.

The US Open women`s doubles final is scheduled for Sunday as well, with bookmakers really struggling to separate the team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci from the team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. The Italians are, generally, the most marginal of favourites with the betting agencies.

That does not make much sense when one views the previous head-to-head results of the teams. The Czechs have met their Italian rivals four times, winning their last three matches and leading their hard-court encounters 3-1 also.

All four ties between the Czechs and the Italians have taken place this year, with Errani and Vinci beating Hlavackova and Hradecka 5-7 7-5 6-1 at the Australian Open. Since then, the Czechs have ruled the roost, defeating the Italians at Indian Wells, Wimbledon and Cincinnati.

Hlavackova and Hradecka should be the favourites to win the US Open women`s doubles final so, if one is looking to play in Sunday`s other significant event, anything above evens about the Czechs represents something of a value play.

The US Open men`s singles final will take place on Monday, with Andy Murray waiting to see if he will face Novak Djokovic or David Ferrer in the championship match.

Djokovic trails Ferrer 2-5 in the first set of the US Open men`s singles semi-final that has been delayed by rain.

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13/09/2012     © Frixo 2024